In recent decades, there has been a noticeable rise in the dependence on electoral processes. The primary means of legitimising a government system, be it at the national, regional, or local level. The legitimacy of most governments worldwide is derived from elections, regardless of their belief or disbelief in democracy and the peaceful transition of power. The presence of free and fair elections is a fundamental requirement for maintaining integrity and democracy within legal systems. This ensures that citizens have the opportunity to participate without restrictions in selecting their representatives and shaping their government.Elections play a pivotal role in contemporary society, serving as a fundamental mechanism for selecting leaders and facilitating decision-making in numerous countries across the globe. However, electoral processes in numerous countries are increasingly plagued by the issue of illegal or suspicious financial support being utilised to attain specific political objectives and manipulate the outcome of elections. This constitutes a blatant violation of international assurances for fair and unbiased elections. Regarding the significant impact exerted by external forces and parties on the outcome of elections in foreign nations, these influences can be either beneficial or detrimental, and may involve the selection of candidates or the provision of financial or operational assistance to political parties.
Ahmed et al. (Sun,) studied this question.